The Scottish Politics Thread

[SaintK]

Hmmm, the treasurer knew nothing!!

Colin Beattie told journalists today that he did not know anything about a campervan paid for by the SNP when he was treasurer. He made the comment when he spoke to reporters for the first time since his arrest last week.
Asked if he knew about the vehicle purchase by journalists in Holyrood, Beattie said: “No I didn’t know about it.”

[Blackmac]

He's just changed his mind.

Wonder when he found out about the luxury jewellery or pens, the fridge freezer or even the burner phones.

[Biffer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65424929

Does Scotland want its kilted king?

He is the kilted king, a monarch with his heart in the Highlands, but is Scotland ready to claim Charles as its own?

About 80% of people in Scotland say they either don’t care very much or at all about the coronation ( a fair bit higher than other areas of the UK).

“He’s making an effort to be one of us” said the wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty. Aye, I think I may have spotted your problem right there.

[Blackmac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65424929

Does Scotland want its kilted king?

He is the kilted king, a monarch with his heart in the Highlands, but is Scotland ready to claim Charles as its own?

About 80% of people in Scotland say they either don’t care very much or at all about the coronation ( a fair bit higher than other areas of the UK).

“He’s making an effort to be one of us” said the wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty. Aye, I think I may have spotted your problem right there.

I think the poll centred around interest in the Coronation itself, which like every other London based event, makes it less likely for people 100's of miles away to care. If the Coronation was in Edinburgh that figure turns on its head.,

[Biffer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65424929

Does Scotland want its kilted king?

He is the kilted king, a monarch with his heart in the Highlands, but is Scotland ready to claim Charles as its own?

About 80% of people in Scotland say they either don’t care very much or at all about the coronation ( a fair bit higher than other areas of the UK).

“He’s making an effort to be one of us” said the wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty. Aye, I think I may have spotted your problem right there.

I think the poll centred around interest in the Coronation itself, which like every other London based event, makes it less likely for people 100's of miles away to care. If the Coronation was in Edinburgh that figure turns on its head.,

Which is exactly what I said tbf, 80% not interested in the coronation.

It might change but it doesn’t turn on its head. No way 80% of people here are going to be raving about a coronation even if it’s in Edinburgh.

[Blackmac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65424929

Does Scotland want its kilted king?



About 80% of people in Scotland say they either don’t care very much or at all about the coronation ( a fair bit higher than other areas of the UK).

“He’s making an effort to be one of us” said the wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty. Aye, I think I may have spotted your problem right there.

I think the poll centred around interest in the Coronation itself, which like every other London based event, makes it less likely for people 100's of miles away to care. If the Coronation was in Edinburgh that figure turns on its head.,

Which is exactly what I said tbf, 80% not interested in the coronation.

It might change but it doesn’t turn on its head. No way 80% of people here are going to be raving about a coronation even if it’s in Edinburgh.

I was responding to your first sentence which was Does Scotland wan't its kilted king, which is completely different to interest in the coronation. And yes, totally accept it doesn't jump to 80 but there would definitely be a huge upturn in interest. You just have to look at how Scots responded to the Queens death to see there is still a strong regard for the monarchy.

[Biffer]

I think the poll centred around interest in the Coronation itself, which like every other London based event, makes it less likely for people 100's of miles away to care. If the Coronation was in Edinburgh that figure turns on its head.,

Which is exactly what I said tbf, 80% not interested in the coronation.

It might change but it doesn’t turn on its head. No way 80% of people here are going to be raving about a coronation even if it’s in Edinburgh.

I was responding to your first sentence which was Does Scotland wan't its kilted king, which is completely different to interest in the coronation. And yes, totally accept it doesn't jump to 80 but there would definitely be a huge upturn in interest. You just have to look at how Scots responded to the Queens death to see there is still a strong regard for the monarchy.

That was just the title of the article, rather than my words.

I’d argue that there’s definitely an amount of the response in Scotland that was about personal regard for the queen and a significant historical moment, rather than regard for the monarchy. That’s why I went, and to represent my family who are much more monarchists than I am but we’re unable to go. There’s a danger for the monarchy in assuming that the high regard for QEII will automatically transfer to the monarchy as a whole, it’s fairly obvious that’s not true.

Is it not telling that the main quote they have that’s supportive of Charles is from landed gentry?

[Blackmac]

Which is exactly what I said tbf, 80% not interested in the coronation.

It might change but it doesn’t turn on its head. No way 80% of people here are going to be raving about a coronation even if it’s in Edinburgh.

I was responding to your first sentence which was Does Scotland wan't its kilted king, which is completely different to interest in the coronation. And yes, totally accept it doesn't jump to 80 but there would definitely be a huge upturn in interest. You just have to look at how Scots responded to the Queens death to see there is still a strong regard for the monarchy.

That was just the title of the article, rather than my words.

I’d argue that there’s definitely an amount of the response in Scotland that was about personal regard for the queen and a significant historical moment, rather than regard for the monarchy. That’s why I went, and to represent my family who are much more monarchists than I am but we’re unable to go. There’s a danger for the monarchy in assuming that the high regard for QEII will automatically transfer to the monarchy as a whole, it’s fairly obvious that’s not true.

Is it not telling that the main quote they have that’s supportive of Charles is from landed gentry?

I know the Whiteford's and I think they would both be highly amused at being called landed gentry. My old man was the Deputy Lord Lieutenant 30 odd years ago and eventually declined the promotion. He was not an admirer of the monarchy. It's more an honour for non political services to the community.

[Biffer]

I was responding to your first sentence which was Does Scotland wan't its kilted king, which is completely different to interest in the coronation. And yes, totally accept it doesn't jump to 80 but there would definitely be a huge upturn in interest. You just have to look at how Scots responded to the Queens death to see there is still a strong regard for the monarchy.

That was just the title of the article, rather than my words.

I’d argue that there’s definitely an amount of the response in Scotland that was about personal regard for the queen and a significant historical moment, rather than regard for the monarchy. That’s why I went, and to represent my family who are much more monarchists than I am but we’re unable to go. There’s a danger for the monarchy in assuming that the high regard for QEII will automatically transfer to the monarchy as a whole, it’s fairly obvious that’s not true.

Is it not telling that the main quote they have that’s supportive of Charles is from landed gentry?

I know the Whiteford's and I think they would both be highly amused at being called landed gentry. My old man was the Deputy Lord Lieutenant 30 odd years ago and eventually declined the promotion. He was not an admirer of the monarchy. It's more an honour for non political services to the community.

Hardly screams common people though, does it.

[Blackmac]

That was just the title of the article, rather than my words.

I’d argue that there’s definitely an amount of the response in Scotland that was about personal regard for the queen and a significant historical moment, rather than regard for the monarchy. That’s why I went, and to represent my family who are much more monarchists than I am but we’re unable to go. There’s a danger for the monarchy in assuming that the high regard for QEII will automatically transfer to the monarchy as a whole, it’s fairly obvious that’s not true.

Is it not telling that the main quote they have that’s supportive of Charles is from landed gentry?

I know the Whiteford's and I think they would both be highly amused at being called landed gentry. My old man was the Deputy Lord Lieutenant 30 odd years ago and eventually declined the promotion. He was not an admirer of the monarchy. It's more an honour for non political services to the community.

Hardly screams common people though, does it.

You've lost me, what doesn't. They are and my old man was very much common people. I'd be interested in what you judge "common people" to be.

[TheNatalShark]

Dan Niedle is excellent at outlining these topics and aggregating reliable info. Also links a Granud investigation

[Tichtheid]

Are the SNP accused of being involved with an illegal tax avoidance scheme?

The way that story is being presented it suggests that is the case.

[Blackmac]

Are the SNP accused of being involved with an illegal tax avoidance scheme?

The way that story is being presented it suggests that is the case.

I think it's more a case of them not doing due diligence to ensure the new auditors aren't going to mire them further in shit.

[weegie01]

The bigger issue for the SNP is that no Scottish firm would take them on, and they had to go to a firm with no Scottish presence.

[Tichtheid]

The bigger issue for the SNP is that no Scottish firm would take them on, and they had to go to a firm with no Scottish presence.

It looks like there was a colossal fuck up in not appointing auditors after the last lot quit. The new firm has a deadline for the end of the month, from what I read.

[Blackmac]

The bigger issue for the SNP is that no Scottish firm would take them on, and they had to go to a firm with no Scottish presence.

It looks like there was a colossal fuck up in not appointing auditors after the last lot quit. The new firm has a deadline for the end of the month, from what I read.

I believe there is also a suggestion that the Westminster party lose £1.2 million in funding.

[weegie01]

The bigger issue for the SNP is that no Scottish firm would take them on, and they had to go to a firm with no Scottish presence.

It looks like there was a colossal fuck up in not appointing auditors after the last lot quit. The new firm has a deadline for the end of the month, from what I read.

They don't really.

The press keep bringing up deadlines as if they are absolute, but extensions can be obtained.

[Tichtheid]

The bigger issue for the SNP is that no Scottish firm would take them on, and they had to go to a firm with no Scottish presence.

It looks like there was a colossal fuck up in not appointing auditors after the last lot quit. The new firm has a deadline for the end of the month, from what I read.

They don't really.

The press keep bringing up deadlines as if they are absolute, but extensions can be obtained.

Right, so far from what I've read here and on the Westminster library sites, the SNP haven't done anything illegal or against the spirit of any law, the deadlines mentioned in the press aren't really deadlines and the Short money, from what I can see, is dependent on number of seats, number of votes and swearing allegiance to the new guy in the hat.

I can't find any reference to disqualification from the million quid of Short money except through forming a breakaway party from one that already receives the funding.

I'm open to correction on any of this.

[Blackmac]

It looks like there was a colossal fuck up in not appointing auditors after the last lot quit. The new firm has a deadline for the end of the month, from what I read.

They don't really.

The press keep bringing up deadlines as if they are absolute, but extensions can be obtained.

Right, so far from what I've read here and on the Westminster library sites, the SNP haven't done anything illegal or against the spirit of any law, the deadlines mentioned in the press aren't really deadlines and the Short money, from what I can see, is dependent on number of seats, number of votes and swearing allegiance to the new guy in the hat.

I can't find any reference to disqualification from the million quid of Short money except through forming a breakaway party from one that already receives the funding.

I'm open to correction on any of this.

It's Stephen Flynn himself who has said in a number of interviews that they could lose the money by the end of May.

[weegie01]

They don't really.

The press keep bringing up deadlines as if they are absolute, but extensions can be obtained.

Right, so far from what I've read here and on the Westminster library sites, the SNP haven't done anything illegal or against the spirit of any law, the deadlines mentioned in the press aren't really deadlines and the Short money, from what I can see, is dependent on number of seats, number of votes and swearing allegiance to the new guy in the hat.

I can't find any reference to disqualification from the million quid of Short money except through forming a breakaway party from one that already receives the funding.

I'm open to correction on any of this.

It's Stephen Flynn himself who has said in a number of interviews that they could lose the money by the end of May.

There are mitigating steps the SNP can take, and there is an escalating range of penalties that apply before they lose all the money.

It could happen, but it is not a case of just missing the deadline loses the money.

[Slick]

I see more information is coming out about Murrel buying the camper van and telling absolutely no one. It’s so bizarre

On the up side, Humza isn’t as bad as I thought in FMQ’s

[Blackmac]

I see more information is coming out about Murrel buying the camper van and telling absolutely no one. It’s so bizarre

On the up side, Humza isn’t as bad as I thought in FMQ’s

Delivered straight to his mum's driveway as well.

[robmatic]

I see more information is coming out about Murrel buying the camper van and telling absolutely no one. It’s so bizarre

On the up side, Humza isn’t as bad as I thought in FMQ’s

Delivered straight to his mum's driveway as well.

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

[Biffer]

I see more information is coming out about Murrel buying the camper van and telling absolutely no one. It’s so bizarre

On the up side, Humza isn’t as bad as I thought in FMQ’s

Delivered straight to his mum's driveway as well.

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

Much as this is bizarre and should be investigated, it’s a bit odd that so much focus is on this amount of money, when Michelle Mone is off sunning herself on tens of millions of taxpayer money obtained fraudulently and there’s barely a peep about it anywhere in the press.

[Wylie Coyote]

Delivered straight to his mum's driveway as well.

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

Much as this is bizarre and should be investigated, it’s a bit odd that so much focus is on this amount of money, when Michelle Mone is off sunning herself on tens of millions of taxpayer money obtained fraudulently and there’s barely a peep about it anywhere in the press.

Michelle Mone? Some minor lingerie tycoon under investigation vs the heart of Scotland's Governing elite for these last 14 years, not remotely of comparable importance.

[Blackmac]

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

Much as this is bizarre and should be investigated, it’s a bit odd that so much focus is on this amount of money, when Michelle Mone is off sunning herself on tens of millions of taxpayer money obtained fraudulently and there’s barely a peep about it anywhere in the press.

Michelle Mone? Some minor lingerie tycoon under investigation vs the heart of Scotland's Governing elite for these last 14 years, not remotely of comparable importance.

I think that's the main aggravation. Not the scale of the fraud but the position of those involved.

Having said that, the lack of interest in looking at that scumbag Mone is astonishing. Presumably some interested parties will have made police complaints.

[Tichtheid]

Michelle Mone OBE is a Baroness and Conservative Life Peer, ie she was involved in law making

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... pe-scandal

[Wylie Coyote]

Michelle Mone OBE is a Baroness and Conservative Life Peer, ie she was involved in law making

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... pe-scandal

One of 778 members of a comparatively powerless second chamber vs the folks who have been at the very top of the Scottish Govt for over a decade. Whataboutery stretched to breaking point.

[Tichtheid]

Michelle Mone OBE is a Baroness and Conservative Life Peer, ie she was involved in law making

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... pe-scandal

One of 778 members of a comparatively powerless second chamber vs the folks who have been at the very top of the Scottish Govt for over a decade. Whataboutery stretched to breaking point.

Nonsense, are all comparisons now going to be invalided by the facile "Whataboutery" internet jibe?

She's accused of allegedly channelling tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to her offshore accounts for useless PPE.

Murrell is seemingly being accused of using SNP funds to buy himself a fucking caravan.

[SaintK]

Michelle Mone OBE is a Baroness and Conservative Life Peer, ie she was involved in law making

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... pe-scandal

One of 778 members of a comparatively powerless second chamber vs the folks who have been at the very top of the Scottish Govt for over a decade. Whataboutery stretched to breaking point.

Nonsense, are all comparisons now going to be invalided by the facile "Whataboutery" internet jibe?

She's accused of allegedly channelling tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to her offshore accounts for useless PPE.

Murrell is seemingly being accused of using SNP funds to buy himself a fucking caravan.

She has also taken absence of leave from the Lords so that she can't be suspended pending an enquiry into the various PPE scandals her and her old man were involved in.
Currently living in a £10m villa in Portugal that was purchased for cash last December.
Nothing to see there then!!

[Tichtheid]

One of 778 members of a comparatively powerless second chamber vs the folks who have been at the very top of the Scottish Govt for over a decade. Whataboutery stretched to breaking point.

Nonsense, are all comparisons now going to be invalided by the facile "Whataboutery" internet jibe?

She's accused of allegedly channelling tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to her offshore accounts for useless PPE.

Murrell is seemingly being accused of using SNP funds to buy himself a fucking caravan.

She has also taken absence of leave from the Lords so that she can't be suspended pending an enquiry into the various PPE scandals her and her old man were involved in.
Currently living in a £10m villa in Portugal that was purchased for cash last December.
Nothing to see there then!!

I didn't know they'd moved out of their tax haven estate on the IoM, I suppose you need the winter sun so Portugal makes sense.

The article I linked to states that the racehorse they bought with PPE profits may be being sold on, along with a couple of other assets bought at the same time.

[Biffer]

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

Much as this is bizarre and should be investigated, it’s a bit odd that so much focus is on this amount of money, when Michelle Mone is off sunning herself on tens of millions of taxpayer money obtained fraudulently and there’s barely a peep about it anywhere in the press.

Michelle Mone? Some minor lingerie tycoon under investigation vs the heart of Scotland's Governing elite for these last 14 years, not remotely of comparable importance.

Mone has scammed tens of millions of taxpayers money. Mundell bought a caravan in a dodgy way with private funds. Both need investigated for different reasons. But only one has any attention from the press.

[robmatic]

Delivered straight to his mum's driveway as well.

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

Much as this is bizarre and should be investigated, it’s a bit odd that so much focus is on this amount of money, when Michelle Mone is off sunning herself on tens of millions of taxpayer money obtained fraudulently and there’s barely a peep about it anywhere in the press.

That seems like something worth discussing on the "Stop voting for fucking Tories" thread, which does in fact get much more attention on this forum.

[Biffer]

It does seem a little bit suspect, you have to say.

Much as this is bizarre and should be investigated, it’s a bit odd that so much focus is on this amount of money, when Michelle Mone is off sunning herself on tens of millions of taxpayer money obtained fraudulently and there’s barely a peep about it anywhere in the press.

That seems like something worth discussing on the "Stop voting for fucking Tories" thread, which does in fact get much more attention on this forum.

Mone is Scottish and in the House of Lords. Scottish politics seems a reasonable place for it.

[Wylie Coyote]

Michelle Mone OBE is a Baroness and Conservative Life Peer, ie she was involved in law making

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... pe-scandal

One of 778 members of a comparatively powerless second chamber vs the folks who have been at the very top of the Scottish Govt for over a decade. Whataboutery stretched to breaking point.

Nonsense, are all comparisons now going to be invalided by the facile "Whataboutery" internet jibe?

She's accused of allegedly channelling tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to her offshore accounts for useless PPE.

Murrell is seemingly being accused of using SNP funds to buy himself a fucking caravan.

Michelle Mone is a political non-entity with next to no political influence at all. Mrs & Mr Murrell ran Scotland for a decade and are the central focus of an investigation that seems to be broadening by the day, after sanctimoniously presenting themselves as purer than pure for years while simulatenously shutting down any questions on the topic from inside and outside the SNP. Any news editor worth his salt would know what is the most interesting story. It's positively Trumpian to try and imply this is some media conspiracy.

[Blackmac]

Nicola Sturgeon 'absolutely failed' Scottish children - commissioner https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-65588466

Looks like another heavy dent in a rapidly diminishing legacy.

[Tichtheid]

There’s another of the thoughtless go-to internet jibes, “Trumpian” it’s just so lazy and unoriginal

Mone has so little political clout that she had direct access to senior UK government ministers and through them to contracts worth up to two hundred million pounds of public funds.

No one here is disputing how bad the purchase of a caravan with SNP funds looks, it could be innocent, it could indeed have been the battle bus being claimed, but you don’t get it delivered to your mum.
However it’s a caravan when all is said and done, the police presence made it look like they were about to be digging up bodies in the front garden.

[Tichtheid]

Nicola Sturgeon 'absolutely failed' Scottish children - commissioner https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-65588466

Looks like another heavy dent in a rapidly diminishing legacy.

That’s not an entirely accurate representation of what he said, the “absolutely “ was an affirmative response to a question.

I’m left feeling like I did when the Blair years were being misrepresented, I felt very uneasy about “defending “ him, as I do with Sturgeon

Indy is about far more than the SNP

[Wylie Coyote]

There’s another of the thoughtless go-to internet jibes, “Trumpian” it’s just so lazy and unoriginal

Mone has so little political clout that she had direct access to senior UK government ministers and through them to contracts worth up to two hundred million pounds of public funds.

No one here is disputing how bad the purchase of a caravan with SNP funds looks, it could be innocent, it could indeed have been the battle bus being claimed, but you don’t get it delivered to your mum.
However it’s a caravan when all is said and done, the police presence made it look like they were about to be digging up bodies in the front garden.

If the cap fits. It's the tiresome diversion, any criticism of the SNP almost invariably leads to "but the Toaries". It tracks back to Sturgeon's oh so very tired "I'll take no lectures from..." answer to any awkward question.

[Tichtheid]

I've just had a look back and every so often this guy turns up with accusations of "Trumpism" aimed at anyone in favour of Scots being in charge of their own future.

I'll remember to not engage in future.